Dan's Blackbutt Roubo Bench #15: Undercarriage Glue Up

The bench undercarriage is now together. Glue-ups are by far the most stressful period of any project. I did this in stages.

First the legs to the front and back carriage. Then with the front on it’s side, glued the mortises and tenons (titebond III), inserted the shelf pieces unglued, and then (with the wifes help) lifted the back on top to drop into place (with the mallet’s help), then put it on it’s legs, the ratcheted straps to square, then drawbores.

Aspect view of the bench.

Dry glue up.

View of the tongue and groove 3/8” blackbutt shelf rabbet into the stretchers. I inserted silicone (the bathroom variety) into the grooves. This allows some expansion, without rattle.

Glide leg vice mounts.

Ratchet straps used to tighten things and square them prior to drawbores.